Flushing apparatus for low-down closets.



No. 670,934. I Patented Apr. 2, I901. E. C. MANKIN.

FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR LOW DOWN CLOSETS.'

(Application filed June 23, 1900.;

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ERNEST C. MANKIN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR LOW-DOWN CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,934, dated April 2,1901.

Application filed June 23, 1900. Serial No. 21,263. (No model.)

To d/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST G. MANKIN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Kansas City, Jackson county, State of Missouri,haveinvented a new and useful Flushing Apparatus for Low Down Closets,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to flushing apparatus for low-down closets of thattype having a double trap and an interposed air-space.

At present all low-down closets are provided with a jet to reliablystart the siphonic action, which jet passage by corrosion or otherwisefrequently becomes stopped up, and as it is formed in the earthenwareand in most cases cannot be cleaned the bowl is rendered useless andmust be replaced by another.

My object is to provide an efficient flushing apparatus for low-downclosets, wherein the jet is dispensed with.

The invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described andclaimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a view,partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of a low-down-closetflushing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig 2 is a section of thetank, taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 is the bowl, provided with the superposed traps 2 and3 and an airspace 4 between said traps.

5 is a pipe connecting the airspace with the tank 6, the upper end ofthe pipe being above the water-level of the tank.

7 is the pipe for supplying water from the tank to the bowl.

8 is a valve to close the upper end of pipe 7 and provided with ashoulder 9 on its stem.

10 is a guide-bracket through which said stem extends.

11 is a hand-lever at the outside of tank 6 and mounted on a rock-shaft12 projecting into the tank. 13 is an arm upon said shaft within thetank.

14 is a chain connecting arm 13 with the valve-stem, the arrangementbeing such that the depression of lever 11 raises the valve from itsseat to start the flushing operation.

15 is a passage projecting laterally from pipe 7 within tank 6 and belowvalve 8.

16 is a standard. 17 is a lever pivoted in said standard and provided atone end with a float 1S and at its opposite end with theupwardlyprojecting arm 19.

20 is a valve to close passage 15 and having its stem 21 pivoted tolever 17 forward of the pivotal point of the latter.

22 is a supply-pipe for the tank.

23 is a valve controlling the supply-pipe.

24: is a pivoted lever connected to the valve, provided with a float 25at one end,the arrangement being such that as the water-level falls to acertain point the accompanying movement of said float raises valve 23and permits water to flow into the tank, but as the supply is less than.the exhaust through the larger pipe 7 the level of the water continuesto fall.

26 is a tube depending into the air-tight tank 6 and provided with aperforated cap 27 and with a valve 28 below the cap.

29 is a bracket.

30 is a lever pivoted to bracket 29 and provided at one end with an arm31 projecting up into tube 26 in line with the valve. 32 is a float uponthe opposite end of said lever.

In the practical operation of said apparatus, the depression of lever11, as hereinbefore stated, raises valve 8 to start theflushingoperation of the bowl. As said valve moves upwardly shoulder 9 engagesarm 19 of lever 17 and pushes said arm back and incidentally depressesfloat 18. As said shonlder clears said arm the float immediately risesand disposes arm 19 below the shoulder, consequently holding valve 8open. The water escaping from the tank into the bowl creates a partialvacuum in the tank and a suction which instantly draws the air out ofairspace 4 up into the tank and starts the siphonic action of the waterin the bowl. As the water-level in the tank falls it is accompanied, ofcourse, by float 32, which immediately after the siphonic action isstart-ed causes arm 31 of lever 30 to raise valve 28 and permit the airto escape up through perforated cap 27 and the registering vent-pipe.(Not shown.) This float-operated mechanism for opening the check-valveand permitting the air to escape interrupts the suctional action upthrough pipe 5, which of course would continue to take place if valve 28remained seated, and thereby prevents any possibility of water andcontents being drawn up into and perhaps choking 'said air-pipe. As thewater-level of tank 6 is lowered float 25 raises valve 23 to admit waterfrom the supply-pipe 22, which water, as valve 8 is still open, flowsout to the bowl, thereby making unnecessary the employment of a largetank 6. When the water-level in the tank gets so low that float 18 dropsand withdraws arm 19 from under shoulder 9 and raises valve 20 the valve8 is reseated. The water-level now begins to rise because it enters verymuch faster than it escapes through passage to supply the after-wash orflush to the bowl, which supply is automatically cut off by thereseating of valve at the proper time by the water-level in the tankrestoring float 18 to its original elevated position. The watercontinues to enter tank 6 until float is relevated sufficiently toreseat valve 23, and at the same moment float 32 is-reelevated to theproper point to withdraw its arm 31 from engagement with valve 28 topermit thelatter to be reseated. As the Water-level in the tank rises inthe filling operation the air is compressed and raising valve 28 off itsseat escapes through the perforated cap 27.

In practice the valve 28 may be of such type that the pressure of airalone will be sufficient to raise it from its seat; but by the use ofthe float it is obvious this action is rendered much more positive andreliable, the principal function of float 32, however, being to breakthe suctional action of air up through pipe 5 shortly after the siphonioaction is begun.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced aflushing apparatus for low-down closets which is positive and reliablein action, of simple, strong, and

durable construction, and which embodies the feature-of ad vantage enumeratedas desirable in the statement of invention, and While I I haveillustrated and described the preferred embodiment-of the invention Iwish it to be understood that I reserve the right to make I all changesproperly falling within its spirit and scope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a flushing apparatus for low-down closets, the combination of a bowl,a water-tank, a pipe 7 connecting the rim of the bowl with the lowerpart of the tank and provided with an oifsetting-passage 15, aguide-standard, a

,its stem pivoted to said lever between the pivot and upturned arm, allarranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ERNEST C. MANKIN. Witnesses:

H. G. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE.

